Eight New Mission Presidents Called

The First Presidency has called eight new mission presidents and their wives. They will begin their service in July.

Mexico Cuernavaca Mission

Héctor and Martha P. Ávila

Héctor Ávila Rosales, 53, and Martha P. Meléndez de Ávila, three children, El Vergel Ward, Celaya Mexico Stake: Mexico Cuernavaca Mission, succeeding President Bruce C. Kusch and Sister Alynda Kusch. Brother Ávila is a former Area Seventy, counselor in a mission presidency, stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, high councilor, and missionary in the Mexico Veracruz Mission. Professor of operations management, University of Guanajuato. Born in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico, to Miguel Ávila Villanueva and Francisca Rosales Rubio.

Sister Ávila has served as a ward Primary president, counselor in ward Relief Society and Young Women presidencies, ward Sunday School teacher, institute teacher, ward music director, and Primary chorister. Born in San Miguel Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, to Eduardo Meléndez Orozco and María de los Ángeles Aguilar Tena.

Sister Christiansen is a former counselor in stake Relief Society and Young Women presidencies, ward Relief Society and Young Women president, counselor in a ward Primary presidency, and Gospel Doctrine teacher. Born in Provo, Utah, to Dixon Joseph Markham and Junece Jex Markham.

Nigeria Calabar Mission

Mathias O. and Eunice Eguko

Mathias Oghenebrorhie Eguko, 54, and Eunice Onovughe Eguko, four children, Sun City Ward, Ashaiman Ghana Stake: Nigeria Calabar Mission, succeeding President John E. Kosin and Sister Christiana C. Kosin. Brother Eguko is a former bishop, branch president, counselor in a mission presidency, counselor in a branch presidency, and ward Young Men president. Manager of training and operations, Ghana Missionary Training Center. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, to Isaiah Eguko and Theresa Ishiokwu Eguko.

Sister Eguko is a former ward Relief Society president and counselor in a branch Relief Society presidency. Born in Benin City, Nigeria, to John Ovie Onovughe and Comfort Onovughe.

Brazil Belo Horizonte Mission

Bruno M. A. and Lúcia Fernandes

Bruno Miguel De Abreu Fernandes, 38, and Lúcia Fernandes, three children, São Bernardo 5th Ward, São Bernardo Brazil Stake: Brazil Belo Horizonte Mission, succeeding President Paschoal F. Fortunato and Sister Valeria Fortunato. Brother Fernandes is serving as a stake president and is a former bishop, high councilor, stake clerk, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Portugal Porto Mission. Assistant to the area director, LDS Seminaries and Institutes. Born in Lisbon, Portugal, to João da Silva Fernandes and Maria Leonor Dos Santos Abreu.

Sister Fernandes is serving as a Gospel Doctrine teacher and is a former counselor in a ward Young Women presidency, stake family history center director, ward Sunday School teacher, and seminary teacher. Born in Setubal, Portugal, to Lucio Henrique Palma Rocha and Teresa Manuela Amado Jeronimo Rocha.

Japan Nagoya Mission

Tetsuji and Fumie Ishii

Tetsuji Ishii, 63, and Fumie Ishii, three children, Toyohashi Ward, Nagoya Japan East Stake: Japan Nagoya Mission, succeeding President Kazuhiko Yamashita and Sister Tazuko Yamashita. Brother and Sister Ishii served as senior missionaries in the Japan Fukuoka Mission. Brother Ishii is a former Area Seventy, stake president, bishop, director of a multistake public affairs council, and missionary in the Japan Central Mission. Retired manager of general affairs, overseas procurement, and employee education, Aichi Nikon Company. Born in Hiroshima, Japan, to Yuuichi Shibata and Hiroko Nakamoto Shibata.

Sister Ishii is a former ward Relief Society president, counselor in a ward Young Women presidency, family history counselor, Sunday School teacher, and seminary teacher. Born in Toyohashi Aichi, Japan, to Takashi Ishii and Miyoko Fujiwara Ishii.

Sister Szabadkai serves as a branch Primary president and is a former branch Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary president. Born in Szigetvár, Baranya County, Hungary, to István András Tolnay and Mária Szulimán Tolnay.